1.07.2008 - 11:27am ET

(CSRwire) SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hispanic Scholarship Fund Board of Directors has elected Washington, D.C. businessman Raul R. Romero to a two-year term as Chairman of the Board for the nation's oldest and largest Hispanic higher education governing body.

A native of Panama, Romero has served as a member on the HSF Board for more than four years. He assumed the role of Chair immediately on Nov. 1, 2007 and will be Chairman through 2009.

Romero said, "I know America's future success depends on a highly educated workforce, and U.S. Census figures show a growing portion of that workforce will be Latino, so we must make the higher education of Hispanics a cause that everyone understands and supports."

HSF President and CEO Frank D. Alvarez said, "I am proud to have served with Raul on the HSF Board. We are all very fortunate to have someone of Raul's stature and dedication leading our board at this important time." Alvarez added, "He has a track record of being a constant advocate for education. I look forward to working with him. Together we can advance the Higher Education of more Latinos."

"Raul Romero is extremely qualified for this position," said outgoing HSF Chair, Dr. Roger Benjamin. "Raul has tremendous talents, experience and skills that will prove very beneficial to HSF. He is assuming the chair at a critical time in our country's history."

Romero is President and CEO of Alliance Consulting Group, LLC, in Washington, D.C. The firm is a Marketing Strategy Consulting group dedicated to helping businesses and organizations formulate strategies and create opportunities in the public and private sectors. The firm's core competencies include capture management for major infrastructure projects, Latin American relations and outreach to the growing U.S. Hispanic market. Mr. Romero is a founding partner of the Washington Nationals baseball team.

His commitment to the education of Hispanics has been evident throughout his distinguished career, both in the public and private sector, as well as professional and nonprofit. During much of his involvement with the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, he has chaired many major events, including the HSF Alumni Hall of Fame Galas in Washington, D.C. These events have raised millions of dollars in scholarships for deserving Latinos. His tireless efforts have contributed hundreds of scholarships to Latinos as part of HSF's legacy of awarding more than 82,000 scholarships in excess of $221 million to deserving Hispanics across the nation.

Mr. Romero serves on the Board of Directors of the United States Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Institute for Latino Studies Council at the University of Notre Dame. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Guaranty Federal Bank.

He earned his B.S. degree in Civil Engineering with Honors from the University of Notre Dame. He also earned his Master's in Civil/Structural Engineering with Highest Honors from his alma mater. He attended the Harvard Business School Corporate Governance Program in 2005.

About Hispanic Scholarship Fund

Founded in 1975 as a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization, HSF's vision is to strengthen the country by advancing college education among Hispanic Americans. In support of its mission to double the rate of Hispanics earning college degrees, HSF provides the Latino community more college scholarships and educational outreach support than any other organization in the country. In its 32-year history, HSF has awarded more than 82,000 scholarships worth more than $221 million to Latinos attending nearly 2,000 colleges and universities in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

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